By Elinah Iraguha
In October, our team traveled to Uganda for our largest ever Animal Tracks distribution of goats, chickens, and pigs for refugees. During our trip, we sat with recipients to listen to their stories and understand their unique circumstances. This is the story of Elinah, a young woman who persevered through the challenges of life in a refugee camp to pursue her dream of education. Elinah was our translator inside of the camp and she speaks 4 languages! She also sells banana drinks in the market. Now, thanks to Animal Tracks, Elinah has two pigs, which will help her achieve financial stability on her journey to university.
Meet Elinah!
My name is Elinah Iraguha. I’m a 25 year old woman and refugee staying in the Kyaka II refugee settlement in Uganda. I’m the first born of my family, and I live in the camp with my father, my daughter, and my seven younger siblings.
My life has been a series of hardships and triumphs. From a young age, I knew nothing outside of life in the camp, where makeshift tents served as homes and dreams were often stifled by the harsh realities of displacement. Opportunities were scarce and hope seemed like a distant dream. Despite these challenges, I held on to my dreams of education and a better future. I attended the rudimentary primary school nearby, cherishing every moment of learning amidst the chaos and suffering of the camp.
In 2018, life threw me a curveball. My parents didn’t have the funds to provide me with further education. This forced me to look for a job to financially support my family and pay for my siblings’ school fees. Unfortunately, I was not able to find steady employment, and could only volunteer with organizations.
Elinah chatting with Roman and Jessica in the Kyaka II refugee settlement.
In 2019, I was 20 years old and found myself facing the unexpected. I was pregnant. Fear and anxiety gripped my heart as I grappled with the responsibility of raising a child on my own. My parents were unhappy with me, others in the camp judged me, and the child’s father, denying his responsibility, abandoned me.
Then, tragedy struck when I lost my mother to illness. My pillar of strength and support was gone, and my father, struggling with mental illness, began suffering from alcoholism. I was left feeling utterly alone with the responsibility of caring for my baby and seven siblings. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I even considered committing suicide.
Amidst the darkest days of my life, I found an unyielding resolve to carve out a better future for myself, my child, and my family. I was determined to defy the odds stacked against me, and would do everything in my power to return to school. Through the African Women and Youth Action for Development (AWYAD), I received counseling and guidance, and thanks to a UNHCR education partner, I received support for tuition. My neighbor took care of my child as I studied. Despite the challenges of balancing motherhood and academics, I poured myself into my studies. Each day, I embraced every opportunity to learn and grow, fueled by love and hope for a better future.
In 2023, I proudly completed my secondary level studies as a student parent. Against all odds, I not only finished, I excelled, scoring high marks in biology, agriculture, nutrition, math, and writing. News of my achievement spread through the camp, igniting a spark of hope against the shadows of despair.
Today, standing on the precipice of a new chapter in my life, my eyes are set firmly on the horizon of possibility. I have taken the bold step forward of applying for a scholarship to university. For me, this is not just an opportunity for education, it is a chance to rewrite the narrative of my life. As I wait for the outcome of my application, I know that whatever the future holds, I will face it with the same courage and resilience that has carried me this far.
My journey from a refugee camp to the halls of academia is not just a testament to my resilience, but a beacon of hope for all who dare to defy the odds and forge their own paths.
